Allergic Reaction to Insect Bite or Sting
Signs of an Allergic Reaction
- Swollen hands and eyelids
- Wheezing
- Hive-like rash.
How to React
If your child has localized swelling around the sting site, apply ice and wait before calling your doctor. If a severe allergic reaction is going to occur, expect it to happen within an hour of the sting. If the above signs of systemic allergy occur, take your child immediately to your doctor’s office or emergency room. The most concerning allergic sign following a sting is wheezing or difficulty breathing. The second sting may produce a more sever allergic reaction than the first. If your child showed any of the above signs from the first bee sting, here is a wise precaution: As soon as your child is stung, apply an ice pack and immediately go and sit in the local emergency room. If no allergic signs appear within a couple of hours, then it is safe to return home. If your child has a history of severe allergies to insect stings, discuss with your doctor about desensitizing the child to insect stings with a series of shots. If you are traveling and your baby has had severe reactions to stings, take along a prescription insect-sting kit that contains Adrenalin and directions on how to administer it.
For more on insect bites and stings, click here.